Next-generation wireless WAN transmission systems in support of NATO Expeditionary Operations

NATO forces rely on satellite communications (SATCOM) for the larger part of their intra-theatre wide-area network (WAN) communication requirements. Lack of SATCOM bandwidth and increasing costs make it necessary to explore non-SATCOM alternatives for intra-theatre WAN wireless transmission services that can cope with the demanding operational requirements of modern military expeditionary operations. NATO Communications and Information Agency has been conducting investigations and experimentation of new concepts and technologies in this area, culminating in a comprehensive vision for a mix of next-generation wireless WAN terrestrial transmission systems. However, it is very difficult to gauge the true potential of these types of systems in expeditionary operations. On the one hand, such operations have a large gamut of possible scenarios; on the other hand, different stakeholders have different views and interests. Commercial vendors prefer to use benign wireless scenarios against which to gauge their systems, whereas military users want to know the true potential of terrestrial wireless systems in the real world. In this context, the Agency developed a practical methodology to assess the performance and potential of wireless WAN systems in expeditionary operations scenarios. This paper presents that methodology and applies it to the mix of future-generation WAN wireless transmission systems for NATO Expeditionary Operations, and presents the results to the military communications community.